The 55th Garment Buyers and Sellers Meet of WBGMDA (West Bengal Garments Manufacturers and Dealers Association) generated an estimated INR 850 crore in business transactions in wholesale deals, said an official on Friday. The three-day event saw the participation of over 900 national and international brands, an official statement said.
Over 50 Lakhs Engaged In Garment Manufacturing In Bengal
“This industry already supports one of the largest workforces in the country, with over 50 lakh employees engaged in work either directly or indirectly,” said Hari Kishan Rathi, president of WBGMDA. “The INR 850 crore in business transactions, driven by participation from 900 national and international brands, underlines the potential of the event to elevate Bengal’s readymade garment industry. We are deeply grateful for the government’s continued support for the textile and garment sector, particularly in promoting clothing businesses and marketing opportunities,” he said.
Request For Garment Hub In Rajarhat
Officials have put forth the request for dedicated land for setting up a hub for garments. “We require at least 4-5 bighas to build a common showroom complex at Rajarhat. This would allow buyers to easily visit the showroom and access offers of our members under one roof. Visitors from other states can make deals conveniently as New Town is near to the airport and they may travel conveniently,” Devendra Baid, secretary of WBGMDA said. Such hubs will help boost exports in the sector, he said. The association has requested the state government for land for such a dedicated showroom hub for garment makers at Rajarhat, New Town to help draw more buyers to the state.
Commenting further on the suggested garment hub Baid mentioned the state government had proposed land in far-off areas like Kalyani, but manufacturers and dealers had expressed concerns about travel costs and time constraints involved in finalising such a location and there was reluctance to start there.
Bengali